Lei Ting finally spent the last night before the start of the term in his own dormitory.
Following the "Earth Day" brightness cycle of the Orion human calendar, the artificial sun suspended at the highest point of the ship shifted its glow, now appearing dim and cool. Mottled dark patterns emerged across its surface, with craters and somber depressions of various sizes scattered about, transforming the eternal luminary from a sun into a moon.
Under this tranquil moonlight, within the modular dormitory, the alloy blinds sandwiched between two layers of sealed glass reflected a design trend from a century ago. In an era where transparency was typically adjusted directly through the material, they exuded a strange, retro charm.
Lei Ting lay on his side in the bunk at the end of the dorm cabin, staring at the window inches away. He could actually sense a faint ability reaction from the outer pane—embedded within the glass was a grid of ultra-fine metallic wires, invisible to the average Orion human's vision.
The data stream on the *Sun’s* local area network forum was massive, a chaotic swirl of various news and rumors. From a stickied post regarding the forum rules, Lei Ting even learned that long ago, when the vote for the giant ship's name was held, the top choice hadn't been the *Sun*. It had been... the *Good Luck*.
However, certain events had transpired afterward, causing the ship to change names several times. It wasn't until thirty or forty years ago that it truly became the *Sun* known today.
Aside from that, perhaps due to someone controlling information behind the scenes, there was very little mention of Lei Ting himself. Nevertheless, the story of a "Double S" rank freshman getting into a scrap on a small transport ship was gradually spreading.
To be fair, Lei Ting still didn't have a concrete grasp of what "Double S" actually meant. He only felt that he was indeed stronger than those around him. Well... alright, a lot stronger. But while he appreciated this power, he didn't believe this "strength" allowed him to stand completely above the crowd.
He would never underestimate anyone. To assume that everyone might hold a trump card capable of toppling him was the mindset one learned to survive an orphanage.
Lei Ting withdrew his gaze and gave a voice command to close the blinds, sealing out the external light. The room fell into total darkness. Aside from the external light of his network terminal on the pillow, only the emergency alarm button by the wall emitted a faint red glow.
...
The next morning, Lei Ting left his dorm early, carrying everything he was required to bring.
The regulations stipulated a 6:00 AM start, but he was out by 5:10 AM. Even so, as he stepped out, he saw two Beta students he had encountered before. They were in the lounge area, using light-green, eye-protection data pads provided by the school to look up information restricted from private devices.
Lei Ting remembered that the energetic male with long hair was named Sandro, and the more stoic, composed female was Susanna. The two seemed to have grown up together.
Since Dorm Cabin No. 2 was diagonally opposite the lounge, the pair spotted him the moment he stepped out. Susanna said nothing, but Sandro waved cheerfully. "Hey! Big Brother Lei!"
*How did I suddenly become 'Big Brother'...*
Lei Ting greeted them and walked over to sit on a sofa. He pulled a data pad from the shelf and opened the *School Rules and Regulations*, which he had already read several times, while asking, "By the way, I don't know which departments you're in yet."
"I'm in Information Engineering, and Su is in Integrated Management. We're both in logistics," Sandro said happily. "When we applied, our families thought these two would be better for employment. Even after we retire from service, plenty of companies and organizations will be scrambling to hire us. Big Brother Lei, what about you?"
"I... haven't thought that far ahead," Lei Ting replied, momentarily stunned by the foresight. "I'm in the combat category—the Superpowered Mecha Department."
The moment those words left his mouth, the expressions of the two across from him changed. Surprise, realization, confirmation, and reverence... a series of emotional reactions flickered across their faces, finally settling on a look that said, *'I hope he survives.'*
Lei Ting: "...?"
Seeing his obvious confusion, Sandro asked cautiously, "Big Brother Lei, you know that department... it's all front-line combat, facing the enemy head-on, right?"
Only then did Lei Ting realize why they were reacting this way. Although minor skirmishes and occasional mid-sized battles occurred at the borders, to those within the Federation's interior, the starry sky wasn't that dangerous. Sandro clearly came from a family that was, if not wealthy, at least well-off. To such a background, long-term front-line slaughter was an unimaginable burden.
However...
"I know. I wasn't assigned here by default," Lei Ting answered mildly.
"Then," Sandro asked with the sincerity of an interviewer, "what were you thinking, applying for a department that has a ten percent fatality rate even during the internship period?"
"Interest, I suppose," Lei Ting said, nodding with a serious expression. "I quite like the feeling of keeping my head tucked into my waistband. There's a certain thrill in knowing I could go for reincarnation at any moment."
Beside them, Susanna finally made her first sound of the morning: a stifled laugh she couldn't hold back.
Soon, all three were laughing. Their laughter caused other students just leaving their rooms in the corridor to poke their heads out. Seeing the trio, they greeted them and asked, "What's so funny?"
Sandro quickly recounted the story of the "reincarnation at any moment." Then, students from the floor above came down, and the story began to spread. By the time the dormitory officially allowed exit at 5:30 AM, the group walking out of this building was the most jovial of all.
But before leaving, Lei Ting glanced at Room 1 at this end of the corridor, then at the last few rooms at the far end. "Aren't they coming out yet?"
"Room 1 in every building isn't for living; that's where the engineering control console is located," Sandro, the Information Engineering student, answered rapidly. "As for those guys... bah, don't worry about them."
As he spoke, he suddenly lowered his voice, whispering to those around him, "I was messing around with the entrance surveillance yesterday when I was bored. I saw those two Omegas go to *that person's* room during the first and second halves of the night, respectively."
"No way..." Everyone present was shocked. "This is a military academy, a place for training officers... what are those people even here for?"
"Heaven knows. Either way, it didn't look like they were here for serious business. They're really dragging down the reputation of the Class of 3996," Sandro snorted. "Alright, I have to head a different way from here. See you all tonight!"
"See you tonight!" The group sent off their first departing member.
Susanna, who had begun to warm up to Lei Ting, also said, "I have to leave at the next intersection. See you tonight."
"See you tonight!" The group sent off their second member.
"We have to go too; we're all in Mechanical Engineering." Several more said their goodbyes with smiles. "See you tonight!"
"See you tonight!" The remaining members of the school-bound squad sent off the third through Nth departing members.
One by one, groups left the formation until only Lei Ting remained, walking alone on the silver-and-gray road.
The dense, artificial grooves in the ground increased the friction between his uniform boots and the floor, making the walk somewhat difficult. Because these boots had defensive counterweights in the soles, toes, and heels, they were already heavy. Combined with the high-performance anti-slip treads, the walk to school felt like trekking over mountain ridges.
Lei Ting passed the Logistics and Medical districts. By the time he reached the Combat sector, the students pouring in from all directions had dwindled to a fifth of their original number. When he finally entered the grounds of the Superpowered Mecha Department, there were only two or three hundred students left.
Out of fifty thousand students, only ten thousand had applied for Combat, and those who dared to enter the Superpowered Mecha Department were as rare as phoenix feathers. But this was logical, as the Combat Department required a minimum of Grade C mental strength, while the Superpowered Mecha Department required a minimum of Grade B.
Grade C mental strength was necessary to resist the enemy interference encountered in interstellar warfare. Grade B mental strength was the level where "superpower awakening is guaranteed." Only at this level could one directly channel energy from within the body to interfere with the external world and pilot a personal mecha.
The Orion Federation's mecha were divided into three types: Light Individual Armor, Heavy Individual Armor, and Multi-person Integrated Heavy Mecha. The storage, donning, combat styles, and purposes of these three were vastly different. The vast majority of Combat students could only learn to pilot the integrated heavy mecha; custom-fitted individual superpowered mecha were not for everyone.
As he reached the gates of the Superpowered Mecha Department, Lei Ting stood by a fountain lake dozens of meters in diameter and watched for a long time.
The fountain water shimmered, filled with bionic ornamental fish, and at its center sat a magnificent statue. Unlike the "books" or "owls" common in conventional universities, this statue depicted a sharp-angled, old-model superpowered mecha soaring upward. Held high upon the mecha's raised arms was a solid steel planet. The appearance of that planet was very familiar to Lei Ting.
It was Earth.
Surrounding that steel Earth were seven emblems of different colored light.
A scan from his network terminal showed that the statue and fountain shared a single name: "Endless Vitality."
The mecha's design was that of the first-generation superpowered mecha, developed around 2700 AD. It represented the great creativity of "Earthlings" as a surface civilization, breaking through the dark collective technological blockade of the Milky Way at that time.
Over the years, the Orion First Military Academy had undergone countless structural renovations and material reinforcements to the *Sun*, but "Endless Vitality" had remained untouched. Only thirty or forty years ago, the fish inside had been replaced with bionic ones.
Furthermore, everything from the steel used for that Earth to the marble tiles lining the pool was a meticulously maintained product brought from the "Origin System: Earth."
Lei Ting looked at that Earth, sparkling under the artificial sunlight. Nearly three hundred new-generation students split into two paths to bypass the fountain, merging into the great gates behind the pool.
A moment later, he lowered his head and followed suit, bypassing the fountain and stepping through those silver-bright doors.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 桑德罗 | Sandro | A Beta student in Information Engineering. |
| 苏珊娜 | Susanna | A Beta student in Integrated Management. |
| 信息工程 | Information Engineering | A logistics-based major. |
| 综合管理 | Integrated Management | A logistics-based major. |
| 超能机甲系 | Superpowered Mecha Department | An elite combat major requiring Grade B mental strength. |
| 3996届 | Class of 3996 | The current year/class of students. |
| 生生不息 | Endless Vitality | The name of the fountain and statue at the Superpowered Mecha Department. |
| 始源星系 | Origin System | The solar system where Earth is located. |
| 好运来号 | Good Luck | An alternative, auspicious name once considered for the *Sun*. |
